diff --git a/easybuild/tools/build_log.py b/easybuild/tools/build_log.py
index 044f53faac..712c3ea4e7 100644
--- a/easybuild/tools/build_log.py
+++ b/easybuild/tools/build_log.py
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ def __init__(self, msg, *args, exit_code=EasyBuildExit.ERROR, **kwargs):
 
     def __str__(self):
         """Return string representation of this EasyBuildError instance."""
-        return repr(self.msg)
+        return self.msg
 
 
 def raise_easybuilderror(msg, *args):
diff --git a/test/framework/hooks.py b/test/framework/hooks.py
index b460842e33..ccb9722958 100644
--- a/test/framework/hooks.py
+++ b/test/framework/hooks.py
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ def run_hooks():
             "== Running pre-single_extension hook...",
             "this is run before installing an extension",
             "== Running fail hook...",
-            "EasyBuild FAIL: 'oops'",
+            "EasyBuild FAIL: oops",
             "== Running crash hook...",
             "EasyBuild CRASHED, oh no! => boom!",
             "== Running post-easyblock hook...",
diff --git a/test/framework/sandbox/easybuild/easyblocks/t/toy.py b/test/framework/sandbox/easybuild/easyblocks/t/toy.py
index da631b2390..9fde1a3783 100644
--- a/test/framework/sandbox/easybuild/easyblocks/t/toy.py
+++ b/test/framework/sandbox/easybuild/easyblocks/t/toy.py
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ def build_step(self, name=None, cfg=None):
     def test_step(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """Test toy."""
         if self.cfg['runtest'] == 'RAISE_ERROR':
-            raise EasyBuildError("TOY_TEST_FAIL")
+            raise EasyBuildError("TOY_TEST_FAIL\nDescription on new line")
         else:
             super().test_step(*args, **kwargs)
 
diff --git a/test/framework/toy_build.py b/test/framework/toy_build.py
index 9045494bc7..6edf4f3258 100644
--- a/test/framework/toy_build.py
+++ b/test/framework/toy_build.py
@@ -1778,7 +1778,7 @@ def test_external_dependencies(self):
         write_file(toy_ec, ectxt + extraectxt)
 
         if isinstance(self.modtool, Lmod):
-            err_msg = r"Module command \\'.*load nosuchbuilddep/0.0.0\\' failed"
+            err_msg = r"Module command '.*load nosuchbuilddep/0.0.0' failed"
         else:
             err_msg = r"Unable to locate a modulefile for 'nosuchbuilddep/0.0.0'"
 
@@ -1791,7 +1791,7 @@ def test_external_dependencies(self):
         write_file(toy_ec, ectxt + extraectxt)
 
         if isinstance(self.modtool, Lmod):
-            err_msg = r"Module command \\'.*load nosuchmodule/1.2.3\\' failed"
+            err_msg = r"Module command '.*load nosuchmodule/1.2.3' failed"
         else:
             err_msg = r"Unable to locate a modulefile for 'nosuchmodule/1.2.3'"
 
@@ -4842,7 +4842,7 @@ def test_toy_failing_test_step(self):
         test_ec_txt += '\nruntest = "RAISE_ERROR"'
         write_file(test_ec, test_ec_txt)
 
-        error_pattern = r"An error was raised during test step: 'TOY_TEST_FAIL'"
+        error_pattern = "An error was raised during test step: TOY_TEST_FAIL\nDescription"
         self.assertErrorRegex(EasyBuildError, error_pattern, self.run_test_toy_build_with_output,
                               ec_file=test_ec, raise_error=True)